Unveiled

Columbus isn't shy about taking the road less traveled, from restaurants to art and everything in between—including its brides.

“I knew from the beginning I wasn't going to wear a veil,” says Emily Anthony, who chose to wear her hair down with loose curls and a headvine (similar to a headband) when she wed Jimmy on July 3, 2016. “I feel like I'm not really the traditional girly-girl. It didn't seem like it fit with my personality.”

“I thought about my mom and my grandparents, and I did hesitate a little bit,” she says. “But it was something I was very stubborn about. I knew I didn't want it.”

It's a trend many Columbus hair stylists see regularly, as weddings become more casual and less traditional.

“I'm seeing a lot of brides step away from the veil,” says Charles Penzone Salon stylist Rosie Allen, who's been styling bridal hair for nine years. “If a bride does choose a veil, it's usually short or a birdcage veil. If there's no veil, they're usually wearing a headband or flowers.”

Braids, says Allen, are on-trend and requested by nearly every bride who goes sans veil.

“Most of the time, they don't care what the back looks like as long as there's a braid in it,” she explains. “They always want a braid incorporated.” That could mean a braided up-do, a long and loose plait or a half up/half down style, and it typically includes some sort of accessory.

“It's the comb accessories with jewels most brides want—maybe a headband or a crown, or hardly anything at all, or flowers, like the Bohemian look,” says Kiley Dubenion, lead bridal stylist at Nurtur the Salon in Grandview. “It's very simplistic. Nothing's too busy.”

One of the most popular, simpler trends seen by local stylists is the flower crown.

“Flower crowns are huge,” says Square One Salon stylist Haley Reeb. “Flowers within the crown or incorporated into the hair somehow.”

Incorporating flowers works well for the popular “un-done” style, she adds. “A lot of trends right now are going with more of a messy, romantic look. It's a looser look with a more natural texture.”

For an up-do, that could mean a looser chignon or bun with a braid and a flower; for longer lengths left down, that could be soft, loose curls with a draped hair comb, a headband or a single flower behind the ear.

“I showed [my stylist] a ‘boho braid' off Instagram, and she helped pull it off,” says Courtney Phillips, who wore a thick side braid layered with fresh flowers for her walk down the aisle to husband Quentin on Aug. 13, 2016. “If I could have flowers in my hair every day, I think I would.”

Up or down, one thing a veil-less bride needs is a bit of volume.

“You can go to a hair salon and buy a tract of hair,” to add lift, says Reeb. “It creates a fuller look and gives more volume for girls with medium-length hair or thinner, finer hair.”

A bride can also do a lot with the roots of her hair, which are on display in photos and during that walk down the aisle. Some brides add a little glitter to their roots, while others add a little drama with color.

“Color is always important,” says Allen. “If a bride wants lots of depth and dimension to her look, or for her braid to stick out, I always recommend she gets highlights, because it shows off the style a lot better. Especially with braids.”

No matter how you rock your no-veil hair, the biggest recommendation for brides from stylists is to make sure you do a least one practice run about six to eight weeks before the wedding. That ensures you and your stylist are on the same page, allowing your tresses to look their best.